Thursday, July 14, 2011

QR Codes

I read about QR codes a couple of weeks back thanks to a comment on Twitter. I wasn't particularly interested the first time around. I had some extra time this week at our Tech Camp, so I explored it a little more. Here's a link to a livebinder that will give all the explanation you need about QR codes. It also has examples of how to use it in class. I found most of the applications to be not that helpful. I'm going to share two applications that I see using QR codes for. First, I like the idea of having a paperless answer key to go with a worksheet. A QR code can be placed on the worksheet. When a group of students have finished their work, they can check their answers can be scanning the QR code with their phones. Now, they will have access to a paperless answer key. Here's a very simple example of a QR code that I linked to a GoogleDoc. If you scan this image with an app on your smart phone, it will send you to an answer key.

The second option is adding QR codes to things like posters and science fair boards that the students have created. The QR codes can link to YouTube videos of the students explaining their projects. I don't know if I will incorporate it into my class this year or not, but it definetly interesting learning about.﻿

4 comments:

Wow. What a cool idea! There's a ton of potential here, and I don't even know how I'd use it, but the fact that you can link a QR code to a Google Doc is pretty interesting and opens up a lot of possibilities. Think of online (or in class) scavenger hunts; clues, questions, etc. I've got to wrap my brain around this. Thanks for sharing.

Taylor, I just came across another article on QR codes that I found interesting, from TeachPaperless. People linking them to Google Maps, with art installations, in magazines, other additional / value-added information, or not taking advantage of the tool at all.

I like the idea of adding them to a poster or handout- Give students a QR code with a video linked to it and then problems or questions about the video. Here is a link to an presentation on how to use QR codes in education: https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=0AclS3lrlFkCIZGhuMnZjdjVfNzY1aHNkdzV4Y3I&hl=en_GB&authkey=COX05IsF&pli=1. I have not previewed it yet